Review: "Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit" a Disappointing Reboot

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 57 (of 2014) by Leroy Douresseaux

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014)
Running time: 105 minutes (1 hour, 45 minutes)
MPAA - PG-13 for sequences of violence and intense action, and brief strong language
DIRECTOR:  Kenneth Branagh
WRITERS:  Adam Cozad and David Koepp (based on characters created by Tom Clancy)
PRODUCERS:  David Barron, Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Mace Neufeld, and Mark Vahradian
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Haris Zambarloukos
EDITOR:  Martin Walsh
COMPOSER:  Patrick Doyle

ACTION/SPY/THRILLER

Starring:  Chris Pine, Keira Knightley, Kevin Costner, Kenneth Branagh, Lenn Kudrjawizki, Alec Utgoff, Nonso Anozie, Seth Ayott, Colm Feore, and David Paymer with Mikhail Baryshnikov

The subject of this movie review is Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, a 2014 action and espionage thriller from director, Kenneth Branagh.  This is the fifth film in the Jack Ryan film franchise, which began with 1990's The Hunt for Red October (based on the novel by the late author, Tom Clancy).  Shadow Recruit focuses on a young Jack Ryan as he tries to uncover a Russian plot against the United States.

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit opens at the London School of Economics, where Jack Ryan (Chris Pine) is a student.  The film also opens on September 11, 2001, the day of the terrorists attacks on New York City and Washington D.C.  Ryan joins the U.S. Marines after the attacks, but he is critically injured during a mission.  While undergoing recovery, Ryan meets and falls for Cathy Muller (Keira Knightley), a young medical student.  Muller, however, is not the only one who is watching Ryan.

Thomas Harper (Kevin Costner) of the CIA recruits Ryan into the agency.  A covert analyst, Ryan works for a Wall Street stock brokerage as a cover.  There, he discovers a Russian plot to crash the U.S. economy via a terrorist attack.  Ryan first dangerous mission takes him to Moscow to face the sinister Viktor Cherevin (Kenneth Branagh), but this dangerous mission suddenly takes a decidedly lethal turn.

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit is a reboot of the Jack Ryan film franchise.  This is actually the second reboot of Jack Ryan, as The Sum of All Fears (2002) was a fresh start for the franchise with Ben Affleck as Ryan.  Shadow Recruit is also the first Jack Ryan film not based on one of Tom Clancy's novels.  Perhaps, not being based directly on a Clancy novel is the missing ingredient for this film.  It lacks the complexity and large size of Clancy's work.  As for the screenplay:  Tom Clancy ain't Shakespeare, but he was quite good at what he wrote, and screenwriters Adam Cozad and David Koepp are not Clancy

Shadow Recruit does not have to reinvent the action-thriller, let alone the Jack Ryan movie, and it certainly does neither.  This film is a well-produced movie with some good moments, especially those that take place in Moscow.  Ultimately, Shadow Recruit is nothing special, nor is it particularly slick, a characteristic of big-budget, big studio American action films.

I like Chris Pine, but I think that at the age of 33 (when the film was made), he looks too young and too boyish, and lacks the gravitas to play Jack Ryan.  Kenneth Branagh plays beneath his talent here, and it's evident; he looks tired/bored as Viktor Cherevin.

Seriously, I think Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit is best as a past-time you watch on an over-the-air television station one lazy Sunday afternoon.  Sadly, though, I think the Jack Ryan film franchise is done for, and that's a shame.

5 of 10
C+

Sunday, December 14, 2014


The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.

Final "Hobbit" Movie Has Grossed Over $550 Million in Worldwide Box Office

“The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” Continues Its Worldwide March, Crossing the $550 Million Mark

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--“The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” has charged past the half-billion mark in only its second week in worldwide release. A production of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM), the film has taken in an astounding global total of $573.6 million and counting, it was announced today by Dan Fellman, President of Domestic Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures and Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, President of International Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.

    “What a wonderful way to end the remarkable ‘The Hobbit’ Trilogy, as well as our year. We congratulate Peter Jackson and everyone involved in creating this fitting finale, and we anticipate more excellent returns well into 2015 with several territories, including China, yet to come.”

The conclusion to Peter Jackson’s acclaimed “The Hobbit” Trilogy, based on the timeless classic by J.R.R. Tolkien, “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” has continued to play to sold-out houses in North America, where the film has earned an estimated $168.5 million domestically to date and is still #1 at the box office.

Internationally, the film has grossed an estimated $405.1 million as it continues its roll out, setting records and/or topping the box office in countries around the globe, including Germany, Spain, Russia, Mexico, Brazil, Holland, Switzerland and Austria, to name only a few. The film just opened on December 26 in Australia, Poland and Iceland, with much-anticipated release dates upcoming in Argentina, Uruguay and Venezuela on January 1, and China on January 23, 2015.

Scores of moviegoers worldwide are also opting to experience the adventure in the immersive IMAX® format. On the heels of its record-breaking IMAX opening, “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” has gone on to earn an impressive $25 million on 360 domestic screens, and $23 million on 228 screens overseas, including a Christmas day record of $1.02 million, for a global total of $48 million.

In making the announcement, Fellman said, “This is a tremendous result so early in our run, especially in this highly competitive holiday season. Together with our partners at MGM and New Line, we are very happy that moviegoers are not only thrilling to this final adventure in ‘The Hobbit’ Trilogy, but also want to share the experience with their families and friends. Word of mouth and repeat business should lead to continued success as we head into next year.”

Kwan Vandenberg stated, “What a wonderful way to end the remarkable ‘The Hobbit’ Trilogy, as well as our year. We congratulate Peter Jackson and everyone involved in creating this fitting finale, and we anticipate more excellent returns well into 2015 with several territories, including China, yet to come.”

From Academy Award-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson comes “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies,” the third in a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien.

Ian McKellen returns as Gandalf the Grey, with Martin Freeman in the central role of Bilbo Baggins, and Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield. The international ensemble cast is also led by Evangeline Lilly, Luke Evans, Lee Pace, Benedict Cumberbatch, Billy Connolly, James Nesbitt, Ken Stott, Aidan Turner, Dean O’Gorman, Graham McTavish, Stephen Fry, and Ryan Gage. The film also stars Cate Blanchett, Ian Holm, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, Orlando Bloom, Mikael Persbrandt, Sylvester McCoy, Peter Hambleton, John Callen, Mark Hadlow, Jed Brophy, William Kircher, Stephen Hunter, Adam Brown, John Bell, Manu Bennett and John Tui.

The screenplay for “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” is by Fran Walsh & Philippa Boyens & Peter Jackson & Guillermo del Toro, based on the novel by J.R.R. Tolkien. Jackson also produced the film, together with Carolynne Cunningham, Zane Weiner and Fran Walsh. The executive producers are Alan Horn, Toby Emmerich, Ken Kamins and Carolyn Blackwood, with Philippa Boyens and Eileen Moran serving as co-producers. The associate producers are Matthew Dravitzki and Amanda Walker.

New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Present a Wingnut Films Production, “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.” As with the first two films in the Trilogy, “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” and “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” the final film is a production of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM), with New Line managing production. Warner Bros. Pictures is handling worldwide theatrical distribution, with select international territories as well as all international television distribution being handled by MGM. Like the first two films in the Trilogy, “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” was released in High Frame Rate 3D (HFR 3D) in select theaters, other 2D and 3D formats, and IMAX®. www.thehobbit.com #OneLastTime

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites for December 28th to 31st, 2014 - Update #5

NEWS:

From RSN:  Bill Simpich is critical of The Interview.

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From YahooTV:  Hollywood salaries revealed - an interesting article.

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From Variety: The winner of the Dec. 26th to 28th, 2014 box office is The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies with an estimated take of $41.4 million dollars.  This is a repeat victory, as the film was also #1 in its opening week.  Seth Rogen and James Franco's controversial film, The Interview, earned an estimated $1.8 million in what is mainly an art-house release.


STAR WARS:

From YahooMovies:  Oscar Isaac says Star Wars rumors/theories are wrong.


COMICS BOOKS:

From YahooTV:  New promo art from "Ant-Man," featuring the character "Yellowjacket."

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From FlickeringMyth:  Vin Diesel does more "Inhumans" teasing.


REVIEWS:

From AlterNet:  A review of Selma.

Negromancer's Fave Poli-Reads - December 2014 Edition - Update #10

From TheGuardian:  Kyle Orton and the search for NFL liberals.

From RSN:  If Obama were a White Republican...

From FoxNewsLatino:  There was actually a scheme to use the Cuban hip-hop scene to ferment revolution.

From BuzzFlash:  Stephen Colbert's finest moment; yes, it was.

From the WashingtonPost:  Of course, not some, but many Republicans won't accept Obama as President of these United States.  D'uh, it's because he's black.

From YahooNews:  President Obama only answers questions from female reporters in his press conference before his Christmas vacation.

From RSN:  Wonder why Palestinians feel loathing about the U.S.

From YahooNews:  Alan Gross freed from Cuba; this leads to talks between the Obama administration and Cuba to resume diplomatic ties.

From ConsortiumNews:  Cuz like... America's totally awesome.  Poor baby, she is some FOX honcho's jizz jar.

From TheDailyBeast:  The Hunger Games economy.

From ThinkProgess:  The Christian terrorist movement that few people know of - the Phineas Priesthood (although I first heard of them several years ago.)

From Slate:  Not that this will stop the GOP from throwing Benghazi in Hilary's face.

Over $3 Billion at International Box Office in 2014 for Warner Bros. Pictures

Warner Bros. Pictures Surpasses $3 Billion at the International Box Office

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--For the second consecutive year, Warner Bros. Pictures International has exceeded the coveted $3 billion mark at the international box office, it was announced today by Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, President of International Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.

This benchmark comes on the heels of the release of “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies,” a production of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, which surpassed $400 million at the international box office this weekend and is still going strong.

In making the announcement, Kwan Vandenberg stated, “We couldn't be happier to cap off the year this way. In an increasingly competitive marketplace, it is our great team whose commitment, talent and passion make it possible to maximize the international potential of all of our films, from the smallest gems to the biggest tentpoles.”

Nine Warner Bros. Pictures films have exceeded $100 million internationally, topped by Christopher Nolan’s “Interstellar” (with Paramount Pictures), which has taken in an astounding $467 million outside of the U.S. to date, and “Godzilla” (with Legendary Pictures), which has earned $327 million overseas. Four titles—Doug Liman’s “Edge of Tomorrow” (with Village Roadshow Pictures), Phil Lord & Christopher Miller’s “The LEGO® Movie” (also with Village Roadshow Pictures), and Noam Murro and Zack Snyder’s “300: Rise of an Empire” (with Legendary), along with the 2014 spillover grosses from “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug”—each topped $200 million abroad. Other key successes included New Line’s “Annabelle” at a phenomenal $171 million and “Into the Storm,” and the local productions “Wild Tales (Relatos Salvajes),” Argentina’s official entry for the Foreign Language Film Oscar and the highest grossing local production of all time; the hit German comedy “Vaterfreuden”; and the Japanese productions “Rorouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno” and “Runouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends.”

Warner Bros. Pictures International has surpassed $1 billion in grosses a total of 16 years, and crossed $2 billion seven times, including consecutive years from 2010 to 2014.

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Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Choose "Birdman" as 2014's Best Film

The Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association is also known as the DFW Film Critics Association.  The group describes itself as a not-for-profit, unincorporated voluntary organization of print, broadcast and internet film critics based in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area and greater North Texas who meet its membership criteria.  The DFW Film Critics Association currently consists of 29 broadcast, print, and online journalists from throughout North Texas.

The Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association 2014 / 21st Annual Critics’ Poll:

Best Film: Birdman
Runners-Up, in order: Boyhood, The Imitation Game, The Theory of Everything, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Whiplash, Gone Girl, Selma, Wild and Nightcrawler

Best Actor: Michael Keaton, Birdman
Runners-Up, in order: Eddie Redmayne for The Theory of Everything, Benedict Cumberbatch for The Imitation Game, Jake Gyllenhaal for Nightcrawler and Timothy Spall for Mr. Turner

Best Actress: Reese Witherspoon, Wild
Runners-Up, in order: Julianne Moore for Still Alice, Rosamund Pike for Gone Girl, Felicity Jones for The Theory of Everything and Marion Cotillard for Two Days, One Night

Best Supporting Actor: J.K. Simmons, Whiplash
Runners-Up, in order: Edward Norton for Birdman, Ethan Hawke for Boyhood, Mark Ruffalo for Foxcatcher and Alfred Molina for Love is Strange

Best Supporting Actress: Patricia Arquette, Boyhood
Runners-Up, in order: Emma Stone for Birdman, Keira Knightley for The Imitation Game, Jessica Chastain for A Most Violent Year and Laura Dern for Wild

Best Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu, Birdman
Runners-Up, in order: Richard Linklater for Boyhood, Wes Anderson for The Grand Budapest Hotel, David Fincher for Gone Girl and Ava DuVernay for Selma

Best Foreign-Language Film: Force Majeure
Runners-Up, in order: Ida, Winter Sleep, Leviathan and Wild Tales

Best Documentary: Citizenfour
Runners-Up, in order: Life Itself, Jodorowsky’s Dune, The Overnighters and The Great Invisible

Best Animated Film: The Lego Movie
Runner-Up: Big Hero 6

Best Screenplay: Alejandro González Iñárritu, Nicolas Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris and Armando Bo, Birdman
Runner-Up: Richard Linklater for Boyhood

Best Cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki, Birdman
Runner-Up: Hoyte Van Hoytema for Interstellar

Best Musical Score: Hans Zimmer, Intersellar

Winner of the Russell Smith Award: Boyhood

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James Bond "SPECTRE" Has Begun Production

SPECTRE THE 24TH JAMES BOND ADVENTURE SET TO BEGIN PRODUCTION

Directed by Sam Mendes Produced by Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli Starring Daniel Craig as James Bond 007

LONDON, UK, - 007 Soundstage, Pinewood Studios, London. James Bond Producers, Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, released the title of the 24th James Bond adventure, SPECTRE. The film, from Albert R. Broccoli’s EON Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, and Sony Pictures Entertainment, is directed by Sam Mendes and stars Daniel Craig, who returns for his fourth film as Ian Fleming’s James Bond 007. SPECTRE began principal photography on Monday, December 8, 2014 and is set for global release on November 6, 2015.

Along with Daniel Craig, Mendes presented the returning cast, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Ben Whishaw and Rory Kinnear as well as introducing Christoph Waltz, Léa Seydoux, Dave Bautista, Monica Bellucci and Andrew Scott. Mendes also revealed Bond’s sleek new Aston Martin, the DB10, created exclusively for SPECTRE.

A cryptic message from Bond’s past sends him on a trail to uncover a sinister organisation. While M battles political forces to keep the secret service alive, Bond peels back the layers of deceit to reveal the terrible truth behind SPECTRE.

The 007 production will be based at Pinewood Studios, and on location in London, Mexico City, Rome and Tangier and Erfoud, in Morocco. Bond will return to the snow once again, this time in Sölden, along with other Austrian locations, Obertilliach, and Lake Altaussee.

Commenting on the announcement, Wilson and Broccoli said, "We’re excited to announce Daniel’s fourth installment in the series and thrilled that Sam has taken on the challenge of following on the success of SKYFALL with SPECTRE."

Written by John Logan and Neal Purvis & Robert Wade, Director of Photography is Hoyte van Hoytema and Editor is Lee Smith. Production Designer, Dennis Gassner returns along with Costume Designer, Jany Temime and Composer, Thomas Newman. Action Specialist, Alexander Witt is the 2nd Unit Director. Stunt Coordinator is Gary Powell, SFX Supervisor is Chris Corbould, and Visual Effects Supervisor is Steve Begg.

Skyfall, the 23rd James Bond film, was a worldwide box office phenomenon, opening #1 in 70 territories around the world, taking over $1.1 billion worldwide and setting a new all-time box office record in the UK by becoming the first film to take over £100 million.

The launch of SPECTRE was streamed live on 007.com and Facebook.com/JamesBond007, and the video is now available on demand at both sites.

About Albert R. Broccoli’s EON Productions
EON Productions Limited and Danjaq LLC are wholly owned and controlled by the Broccoli/Wilson family. Danjaq is the US based company that co-owns, with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, the copyright in the existing James Bond films and controls the right to produce future James Bond films as well as all worldwide merchandising. EON Productions, an affiliate of Danjaq, is the UK based production company which makes the James Bond films. The 007 franchise is the longest running in film history with twenty-three films produced since 1962. Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli succeeded Albert R ‘Cubby’ Broccoli and have produced some of the most successful Bond films ever including CASINO ROYALE, QUANTUM OF SOLACE and SKYFALL.

About Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer is celebrating 90 years as a leader in the entertainment business and as an innovator in the industry. Today, MGM is an entertainment company focused on the production and distribution of film and television content globally. The company owns one of the world’s deepest libraries of premium film and television content. In addition, MGM has investments in domestic and international television channels and is the majority owner of and distributor for United Artists Media Group (UAMG). For more information, visit www.mgm.com.

About Sony Pictures Entertainment
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production, acquisition and distribution; television production, acquisition and distribution; television networks; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; and development of new entertainment products, services and technologies. For additional information, go to http://www.sonypictures.com.

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